Chapter 12: Lying Back and Feeling at Ease Just Thinking About It

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Another new day had just begun in the early morning. Upon waking, Li Wenyu silently gave Pang Bing a little acting lesson. She was already mid-level in the provincial team with a 74-point attribute.

As he rewarded himself, Pang Bing, still groggy, almost spat a mouthful of saliva at him. “Brother Yu, you’re really something else—three meals a day and you’re not afraid of overeating? You’re going to get yourself killed.”

...

Around seven in the morning, after Li Wenyu hung up a call, Pang Bing came out of the bathroom with a look of surprise. “You buy stocks? Wait, you actually understand stocks?”

She had overheard fragments of Li Wenyu’s phone conversation in the shower, where he mentioned buying shares of NetEase.

Speaking of which, Shark Beach hadn’t finished filming yet. They had to wait for its release and hoped for a blockbuster to earn a 10% share of box office profits. But he had already received 200,000 Hong Kong dollars from the screenplay and bonus for the Tsuen Wan seaside project, 200,000 for directing Shark Beach, and another 200,000 from selling a new script to Brother Hua.

When Shark Beach started shooting, Brother Arong paid the full amount upfront. Now Li Wenyu had 600,000 Hong Kong dollars in hand. Buying NetEase? Well, after calling, he learned that NetEase had been suspended from trading on NASDAQ.

Apparently, it wasn’t until early 2002 that the stock resumed trading.

Having money to invest but unable to buy? If he could buy, that would mean financial freedom.

If he took out 500,000, by 2004 that amount would have grown to 70 million Hong Kong dollars, roughly equal to exchanging for Tencent shares and then lying low until 2024, when it would have ballooned to 39.5 billion Hong Kong dollars... Just thinking about it was exhilarating. Lying low—but unfortunately, this joy was his alone; there was no way to share the feeling with outsiders.

If he went to Brother Xiao Ma and told him about his future plans, Xiao Ma would probably be so shocked he’d call the police.

Knowing about NetEase’s suspension didn’t dampen his sense of financial freedom and ease. He just planned to wait for the stock to resume and told his broker to call him the moment it did.

Some of this money would have to be reserved for taxes... The contract stipulated a 10% fee plus 1% in royalties, calculated annually. In an industry so unregulated, it was really hard to keep track. Many screenwriters worked hard for a year and only received two or three tenths of their deposit; after the film’s release and removal from theaters, and the buyers’ new projects, sometimes the balance was never recovered.

Adjusting for the film production cycle was enough; he definitely wouldn’t break any laws.

Of the 100,000, aside from daily expenses, some was reserved for tax payments.

Li Wenyu nodded. “I’m optimistic about the future of the internet. It’s a gamble. If you have money, you could try too.”

Pang Bing blinked a few times and nodded. “Alright. A couple years ago, Auntie Qiong even sued me for money. Later, I didn’t make any breakthroughs in film resources. When I really get rich, I’ll definitely ask you for some insider tips.”

“As long as Shark Beach is a hit, couldn’t I make a hundred or two hundred thousand from a quality commercial?”

This was still far from the era of earning 2.08 million a day. Even her modest wish of one or two hundred thousand was a bank balance many ordinary people could never save in a lifetime.

But if Shark Beach was on the level of “My Sassy Girl,” the box office should be strong. The lead actress, Choi Ji-hyun, was making money quickly now.

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They chatted casually, and as they were about to leave the room and head downstairs, Pang Bing suddenly said, “Wait, you go down first. I’ll call Li Bingbing and give her a little nudge. We’re in the same company and even share a name. Though we’re not that close, I can pass on the message about the female second lead role in ‘Miracle Boy.’ It’s an opportunity.”

“She probably can’t compete with Ah Zhi, or even the newly debuted Twins, but it’s still more likely than the International Zhang. It’s hilarious—Director Xu, after all these years, trying to revive ‘The Legend of Zu Mountain,’ and it flopped so dramatically.”

“It’s definitely dragged down by the International Zhang!”

Today was October 8, 2001. The new version of “The Legend of Zu Mountain” had been out for two months already, and the box office was a huge disappointment—only 11.75 million Hong Kong dollars on Hong Kong Island.

However, “The Legend of Zu Mountain” also earned 20 million yuan in mainland China, ranking seventh on the 2001 mainland box office charts! Later... well, it hadn’t yet been bought by North America for 100 million Hong Kong dollars in distribution rights.

Xu Ke, moving around the crew of “The Legend of Zu Mountain,” was truly cast under the shadow of defeat.

Ah Zhi’s leading role wasn’t much affected. Aside from “The Legend of Zu Mountain,” she had hits like “Old Master Q” and “Zhong Wuyan” this year. Among the rising stars, Ah Zhi carried the title of Hong Kong’s top actress. Otherwise, the famously temperamental Lau Tak-wah wouldn’t have lost his temper at her two years after her big fame.

Pang Bing’s criticism of the International Zhang was typical daily banter among the four top actresses of their generation.

Li Wenyu was a bit speechless and quickly made his exit.

...

Time flew by during filming. On October 28, Li Wenyu shouted “Cut!” on a certain beach, announcing the end of shooting.

The small crew erupted in excitement. Many behind-the-scenes staff packed up and came over smiling, exchanging congratulations and pleasantries. This small film had started preparation in late August, practiced swimming and props in early September, began shooting mid-September, and wrapped up by late October.

Mainly because there were so few people!

There was only one lead role. From the start, the synergy improved steadily. Throughout the shooting days, everyone got used to the hustle and bustle. After wrapping, many crew members felt... this movie might make a good profit. Li Wenyu, as a new director, might also gain recognition.

He was destined to have a place in the future entertainment industry. Everyone had heard the scripts he gave to Brother Rong and Brother Hua and knew the truth.

With his script-selling ability alone, he could establish a foothold in the industry. The crew hoped to keep the flame alive and continue working with Director Li for their livelihood.

After polite exchanges, Li Wenyu watched as the crew packed their things and boarded the boat. Pang Bing had also changed and approached with an excited look. “Brother Yu, we really wrapped? A few days ago, I could feel the wrap getting closer and now it’s here—I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

“My first big movie is about to hit the big screen? I feel my acting is improving. When Liu Tianwang’s ‘Miracle Boy’ officially starts filming, I’ll perform well and won’t let you down.”

No doubt. After turning down Huang Baiming’s “Brotherly Love” and other flops, Shark Beach was Pang Bing’s first movie to hit the theaters in her life!

Brother Hua himself was busy after a string of 2001 hits like “Love on a Diet,” “Tiger,” and “Full-Time Killer.” In the second half of the year, he filmed “Dream of Love,” “Li Gu Li Gu New Year’s Fortune,” and went on a concert tour.

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His cameo in Shark Beach was a true cameo!

But he was already preparing the “Miracle Boy” project. He, Wang Zuxian, and Pang Bing were the core creative team. After announcing it publicly, the roles of the female second lead and the little boy were fiercely contested.

After the new year, hard-working Brother Hua would be heading to the “Infernal Affairs” crew.

Li Wenyu surely laughed and said, “Then you have to perform well.”

From the 9th until today, Pang Bing accumulated 25 points in acting. Li Wenyu had occasionally added 6 more points here and there. She was still only 20 years old and had only worked with him in one film crew, yet her acting attribute had soared to 80 points. To put it bluntly, she had transitioned from a mere pretty face to a genuine acting teacher level.

An 80-point attribute wasn’t competitive for nominations or awards among the world’s top actresses, but with a good role and script, she could easily win mainland film festivals, TV drama Best Actress awards, and even be nominated for Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress. Winning awards depended on luck and connections.

She was no longer just “Pretty Bing”!

Host: Li Wenyu, 20 years old.
Screenwriter, (79/100).
Director, (82/100).
Fitness, (91/100).
Driving, (67/100).
Car handling, (73/100).
...

Li Wenyu had allocated his accumulated 19 points mainly to fitness, directing, and screenwriting. As for driving, he had broken through the 70-point barrier, mainly thanks to Pang Bing’s hard work day and night.

This was her merit and hard-earned achievement, absolutely not to be overlooked.